Episode 7
“Alright, alright. Yes, yes. Faith Standish is still alive. Oh man Mother you have a terrific right hook.” Said Adam rubbing his chin.
“How could you do this to me?! I was thinking of Grace and I realized that my memories were slightly altered. I seem to remember seeing a figure out of the corner of my eye pull Faith out of the burning house. I ran around the side of the house to get a better look but couldn’t find anyone. Just then the roof caved in I heard sirens blaring and I had to leave. All these years I told myself I had imagined it but that was you wasn’t it?”
“Yes I did it during the time shift.”
“How could you do this to me?!
“There were so many things that I wanted to fix during the time shift.”
“THIS…! Didn’t need ‘fixing’!”
“I Thought…”
“No you didn’t think! Where is she?!”
“I don’t think I should tell you.”
“Adam Murgatroid Bombay!!!”
“I took her to the hospital in Castleton. She’s been there in a coma ever since.”
Tabby sat down on the sofa. “Don’t worry; I’m not going to try to kill her. What difference would it make now anyway? The Darkside has abandoned me. I get that. It’s just that Evil has been my life’s mission. It’s going to take a while to get used my new standing in the world.
“Mother I know that you’ve killed hundreds of people over the years.”
“Thousands.”
“This was the only one that I actually witnessed, albeit only as part of a soap opera but I knew it was real; if I could remove this one blot off your name.”
“It just wasn’t your place.”
“Maybe not, but I wouldn’t take it back even if I could.”
“Is there anything else you want to tell me?”
“Well, there is one thing, but I promise I had nothing to do with it. When you and Julian Crane conceived Endora you passed enough of your magic energy to him so that he remembers some things that a normal mortal wouldn’t. He doesn’t remember everything about the time shift like we do, but he remembers that you and Endora are witches.”
“Hell’s Bells.”
“What is it?”
“How should I know?”
Heckuba and Eustace were standing on the bank of an underground river looking at a device that seemed to be pumping some kind of chemical into the water.
“Isn’t this the river that feeds into the Harmony reservoir?”
The rabbit had disappeared into the cave and Sarah had followed it in. Marty had had no choice but to follow her. Heckuba and the Demon Elf had stayed outside and waited.
Eustace surreptitiously watched Heckuba’s face. She was obviously concerned for the girl, she thought of as her daughter. He wondered if she realized how attached she was to Sarah. It seemed to him that she would be loathed to admit how much she had in common with Tabitha. And this made him wonder again how much Sarah had in common with Endora.
Several minutes later, the kids had come out and had taken off in the direction of the town. Heckuba told him that they should let them go, stay here and investigate the cave.
“I said…”
“I heard what you said and I believe you’re correct. This is the river that supplies Harmony with its drinking water. We need to get a sample of this so the boys in the lab can analyze it. ” Heckuba took a vial from her cloak and held it under the chemical stream. She filled another vial with river water.
“We have a lab?”
Heckuba just shook her head.
“Hey look.” Said Eustace. “There’s a logo on the side of the pump. Let’s see… Neppos Industries. Never heard of it.”
Theresa left Spike’s table and joined Jessica and Simone at the front counter. Spike beat a hasty retreat down the back stairs and into one of Alistair’s many tunnels that honeycombed the town.
“My word, Marty, where have you been? Asked Theresa. “Luis and Sheridan have been looking for you for months.”
“I was with Spike and his goons.”
Theresa shot a look back at the table.
“Too late.” Said Jessica. “I guess he knew what was coming.”
“Well, we’ll just have to deal with him later. Come here you.” Theresa said to Marty.
“I’ve missed you Aunt Theresa.”
Theresa gave Marty a big hug and spotted Sarah over his shoulder.
“And who is this?”
“Oh, this is my new friend Sarah.” Marty quickly explained his adventure with Sarah to Jessica, Simone, and his aunt; including Heckuba springing him from the safe house.
“My dad or Chief Bennett should go take a look at that pump don’t you think?”
“Yes, we will certainly let them know about it but I just remembered you said something about Beth. I think you should know that no one has seen or heard from either your Grandfather or Beth since they boarded that train.”
“I know it’s a horrible thing to say, but I’m glad they’re gone.” Said Marty.
“Don’t feel bad. They were very sick people.”
Marty noticed that Sarah had a funny look on her face. “What’s wrong Sarah?”
“It’s just that that woman you described sounds a lot like my Mother.”
“What’s her name honey?” Asked Simone.
“Her name is Heckuba, she only has one name but I have three: Sarah Hotchkiss-Winthrop.
All three women’s faces went ashen.
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End of Episode 7
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